Head of Vitebsk Region Nikolai Sherstnev: "Fodder procurement must be carried out strictly according to technology"

There are no minor details in fodder harvesting. This was discussed today at the regional seminar "On measures for the organization and conduct of the fodder harvesting campaign in 2021".

Heads of regional authorities, regional services, the Vitebsk Meat and Dairy Products Concern state enterprise, and agro-industrial associations gathered at the Yanovichi agro-complex of Vitebskaya Broiler Poultry Factory OJSC. Urgent issues of the important agricultural campaign were discussed. Among them were optimal phases for harvesting fodder crops, technological settings of fodder harvesting machines, and a quality control system for storing silage mass in standard storage facilities and polymer packaging. A unique exhibition of machinery from foreign and domestic manufacturers, including Tiraspol Agrotechservice, Zapadno-Dvinny MRS, and Bobruisk Agromash, was presented on one of the agro-complex's fields. Company representatives informed the seminar participants about each unit.

Nadezhda Gribanova, Deputy General Director of Vitebskaya Broiler Poultry Factory OJSC, reported that the enterprise's three agro-complexes (Yanovichi, Shmyrev, and Silnitsky) house over 11.5 thousand head of cattle, including almost 4.3 thousand cows. Fodder harvesting is planned for two weeks, requiring the mowing of 355 hectares of grass daily. To maintain the set pace, machinery is regularly updated. Specifically, six mowers have been acquired this year, including three 9-meter wide mowers that can mow 45 hectares per day. Four mechanized detachments are operating in the farms, each with two choppers and at least nine units of machinery for transporting green mass. The first mowing usually yields 35 thousand tons, or 65% of the planned volume. In total, by the stall period, there will be 29 centners of feed units per conventional head of cattle. Incidentally, by July 1, the enterprise will have another agro-complex – Vozrozhdenie.

Chairman of the regional executive committee Nikolai Sherstnev noted that the agricultural production volumes of "Vitebsk Broiler Poultry Farm" are comparable to an average district, therefore the enterprise's experience should be applied to every region. It is necessary to create specialized harvesting teams with all the necessary equipment everywhere and to procure fodder along established routes, regardless of the farm. This will significantly increase the indicators in livestock production.

Elena Klyga, Head of the Perennial Grasses Department of the Scientific and Practical Center for Agriculture of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, spoke about the optimal harvesting phases and the species diversity of fodder crops. Eastern Galega (Goat's Rue) was also presented, which yields 700-750 centners/ha of green mass per season. In terms of crude protein quality, it is slightly inferior to alfalfa. This fodder crop, with such high yields, can be used in the same field for ten years. Nikolai Sherstnev also urged those present to ensure that this productive plant takes its place in the Vitebsk region. By the way, according to Sergey Egorov, Chairman of the Committee for Agriculture and Food of the regional executive committee, in the "Rodnik" peasant farm of Shumilino district, Galega has been cultivated on 300 ha for seventeen years, with a green mass yield of 600 centners/ha. The farm is ready to share seeds.

Nikolai Sherstnev emphasized that fodder procurement must be carried out strictly according to technology. Failure to comply with every detail leads to a decrease in fodder quality and, subsequently, to a loss of revenue.

Source: vitebsk-region.gov.by